Pump and Pumping System Utilizing the Same

ABSTRACT

Provided are a pumping device and a pumping system utilizing the same. The pumping system includes: a tower, installed at a water intake place, having an internal space section and a water-bearing section disposed on the internal space section; an outlet pipe connecting the water-bearing section and a reservoir installed on land; an intake pipe which communicates with the internal space section, extends to the water intake place from a lower portion of the tower, and has an upward folded end, a hood being installed at the upward folded end; and a pumping device, installed in the tower, pumping water entered into the internal space section via the intake pipe to the water-bearing section and including: a rotary shaft vertically installed in the tower; a rotor including a screw pumping unit and a centrifugal pumping unit disposed on the screw pumping unit, the screw pumping unit including an inner body installed slidably along the rotary shaft and having a shaft bearing and a buoyancy space, an outer body separated from the inner body by a predetermined distance to surround the inner body, and a plurality of wings installed between the inner body and the outer body to form a spiral pumping passage, and the centrifugal pumping unit radially ejecting water pumped by the screw pumping unit under a centrifugal force; and a driver installed in the tower to drive the rotor.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a pump and a pumping system utilizing the same, and more particularly, to a pumping device with an improved rotor to enhance the pumping efficiency of freshwater or seawater, and a pumping system utilizing the same.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, pumps are largely classified into turbo types and positive displacement types according to pumping theory. Turbo pumps feature a high feed rate but a relatively small size and are configured for a low delivery head and a large volume of fluid. Centrifugal pumps belong to the turbo pumps. Positive displacement pumps are configured for a high delivery head and a low flow rate, and a feed rate is almost constant under any delivery head ranges. The positive displacement pumps include gear pumps, reciprocating pumps, screw pumps, etc.

Centrifugal pumps include an impeller and a casing. The centrifugal pumps are devices in which a centrifugal force is generated when rotating a fluid in a high speed with an impeller, and the fluid is directed to the circumference from the center of the impeller through a pressure change caused by the centrifugal force. Gear pumps are operated in such a way to push a fluid from an inlet side to an outlet side while two gears in a casing are rotated engagingly with each other. The gear pumps are configured for a small volume of fluid and are mainly used to deliver oils such as a lubricant.

With respect to screw pumps, Utility Model Registration No. 0167567 discloses a screw operator in which a screw impeller having an anti-scattering film is inserted into a case member having a coupling hole and a plurality of guiding blades.

As apparent from the above description, a centrifugal pump, which is a turbo pump, has a representative advantage capable of delivering a large volume of fluid but is configured for a low delivery head. A gear pump, which is a positive displacement pump, can optionally raise a delivery head, thereby guaranteeing a high pumping efficiency, but has a disadvantage that cannot significantly increase a feed rate due to its structural characteristics. A screw pump can pump a large volume of water, but has a disadvantage that cannot raise a delivery head.

When pumping freshwater for drinking purpose or seawater to a nursery area using such a screw pump or centrifugal pump, water pumping efficiency is relatively low, thereby incurring considerable maintenance costs.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Solution

The present invention provides a pumping device capable of relatively increasing water pumping efficiency using the rotary strength and centrifugal force of a screw, and a pumping system utilizing the same.

The present invention also provides a pumping system that is simple in maintenance and management and is easy in adjustment of a pumping depth.

The present invention also provides a pumping system that can constantly maintain a water intake location below the surface of water and can convert a centrifugal force to the lifting power of water.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pumping device including a rotor, the rotor including: a screw pumping unit including a rotary body which is rotatably supported by a rotary shaft installed in a frame and a screw installed between an inner surface of the rotary body and an outer surface of the rotary shaft to form a pumping passage; and a centrifugal pumping unit, disposed on the screw pumping unit, radially ejecting water pumped by the screw pumping unit under a centrifugal force.

The rotary body and the screw of the screw pumping unit may have a diameter gradually decreasing toward the centrifugal pumping unit from the bottom of the pumping device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pumping device including a rotor, the rotor including: a screw pumping unit including an inner body rotatably supported by a rotary shaft installed in a frame, an outer body separated from the inter body by a predetermined body to surround the inner body, and a plurality of wings installed between the inner body and the outer body to form a spiral pumping passage; and a centrifugal pumping unit, disposed on the screw pumping unit, radially ejecting water pumped by the screw pumping unit under a centrifugal force.

A distance between an outer surface of the inner body and the outer body may be constantly maintained, and the inner body and the outer body may have a diameter gradually increasing from the bottom to the top of the pumping device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pumping system including: a tower, installed at a water intake place, having an internal space section and a water-bearing section disposed on the internal space section; an outlet pipe connecting the water-bearing section and a reservoir installed on land; an intake pipe which communicates with the internal space section, extends to the water intake place from a lower portion of the tower, and has an upward folded end, a hood being installed at the upward folded end; and a pumping device, installed in the tower, pumping water entered into the internal space section via the intake pipe to the water-bearing section and including: a rotary shaft vertically installed in the tower; a rotor including a screw pumping unit and a centrifugal pumping unit disposed on the screw pumping unit, the screw pumping unit including an inner body installed slidably along the rotary shaft and having a shaft bearing and a buoyancy space, an outer body separated from the inner body by a predetermined distance to surround the inner body, and a plurality of wings installed between the inner body and the outer body to form a spiral pumping passage, and the centrifugal pumping unit radially ejecting water pumped by the screw pumping unit under a centrifugal force; and a driver installed in the tower to drive the rotor.

The driver may include a motor including: a driven pulley having a length which is substantially the same as a lifting distance of the rotor along the rotary shaft supported by the shaft bearing; and a driving pulley connected to the driven pulley via a belt.

A distance between an outer surface of the inner body and the outer body of the screw pumping unit may be constantly maintained, and the inner body and the outer body may have a diameter gradually increasing from the bottom to the top of the pumping device.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

As described above, the present invention provides a pumping device and a pumping system utilizing the same. The pumping device, which is positioned in a tower installed in a water intake place, includes a screw pumping unit and a centrifugal pumping unit, and thus, water lifting and suction are simultaneously performed by means of a screw, thereby increasing water pumping power.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made from the exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

Therefore, the scope of the present invention for which protection is sought should be defined only by the following claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view illustrating the installation of a pumping system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating a pumping device installed in a tower according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating a pumping device according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating a pumping device according to still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating a pumping device according to yet another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a partial exploded perspective view of a rotor of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of a driver installed in a tower of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view illustrating a pumping device according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A pumping system according to the present invention is installed to be adjacent to a river, a lake, or a sea in order to draw freshwater, seawater, or the like toward land through an intake pipe extended to a water intake place and to pump the drawn water to a reservoir installed on land. An embodiment of the pumping system is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a pumping system 10 is installed at a riverside, a lakeside, or a seaside, and includes a tower 13 including therein a vertical space section 11 and a water-bearing section 12 disposed on the vertical space section 11; a reservoir 100, installed on land, supplying water to a nursery area, a purification system for drinking purpose, or a plant for industrial use; an outlet pipe 14 connecting the water-bearing section 12 defined in an upper side of the tower 13 and the reservoir 100; and an intake pipe 16 which communicates with the vertical space section 11 and extends to a deeper area of a river, a lake, or a sea from a lower portion of the tower 13, an end of the intake pipe 16 being folded upward and a hood 15 being installed at the upward folded end.

The tower 13 includes a pumping device 20 pumping water supplied into the vertical space section 11 via the intake pipe 16 to the water-bearing section 12 and then to the reservoir 100 via the outlet pipe 14.

The tower 13 is a concrete structure and has therein the vertical space section 11 and the water-bearing section 12 disposed on the vertical space section 11 to receive water pumped by the pumping device 20. A flow passage is defined along an inner surface of the water-bearing section 12 of the tower 13 so that pumped water is discharged into the outlet pipe 14 by a centrifugal pumping unit of a rotor as will be described later.

Although not shown, an observation platform may be disposed on the tower 13, and additional facilities may be installed on an outer surface of the tower 13.

The pumping device 20 is used to pump water entered into the vertical space section 11 of the tower 13 via the intake pipe 16 to the water-bearing section 12. An embodiment of the pumping device 20 is illustrated in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 2, together with FIG. 1, the pumping device 20 is installed in the tower 13 and serves to pump water entered into the vertical space section 11 via the intake pipe 16 to the water-bearing section 12. The pumping device 20 includes a rotor 21 including a screw pumping unit 22 vertically lifting water and a centrifugal pumping unit 23 radially pumping water from the screw pumping unit 22; and a driver 25 driving a rotary shaft 24 of the rotor 21.

The screw pumping unit 22 of the rotor 21 includes a rotary body 22 a surrounding the rotary shaft 24 vertically rotatably installed in the vertical space section 11 and being radially spaced from the rotary shaft 24 by a predetermined distance; and a screw 22 c installed between an outer surface of the rotary shaft 24 and an inner surface of the rotary body 22 a to form a spiral pumping passage 22 b. With respect to the screw pumping unit 22, the diameters of the screw 22 c and the rotary body 22 a may be gradually decreased from the bottom to the top thereof to relatively increase an initial intake quantity of water, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

The centrifugal pumping unit 23 of the rotor 21 includes a lower plate member 23 a radially extended from an upper end of the rotary body 22 a; an upper plate member 23 b, installed at the rotary shaft 24, being separated from the lower plate member 23 a by a predetermined distance; and blades 23 c disposed between the upper plate member 23 b and the lower plate member 23 a to extend radially with respect to the rotary shaft 24. The blades 23 c are spirally twisted at a predetermined angle. The rotary body 22 a is connected to the rotary shaft 24 via the screw 22 c, and thus, the screw pumping unit 22 and the centrifugal pumping unit 23 are rotated together with the rotary shaft 24.

The rotary shaft 24 of the rotor 21 is rotatably installed in a state wherein both ends of the rotary shaft 24 are supported in the tower 13. In order to prevent vibration during rotation, at least a side of an outer surface of the screw pumping unit 22 may be supported by a journal bearing or a roller. Of course, the rotary shaft 24 may also be rotatably supported by a separate frame.

The driver 25 may be a motor 25 a installed in an upper portion of the tower 13 to drive the rotary shaft 24. A driving shaft of the motor 25 a may be connected to the rotary shaft 24 by power transmission elements, e.g., driving and driven pulleys and belts.

FIG. 4 illustrates a pumping device 30 according to another embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, the same components as those in the previous embodiments are represented by the same reference numerals.

Referring to FIG. 4, the pumping device 30 includes a vertical rotary shaft 31 installed in a tower 13; a rotor 32 installed at the rotary shaft 31; and a driver 35 driving the rotary shaft 31, like in the above-described embodiments.

The rotor 32 includes a screw pumping unit 33 and a centrifugal pumping unit 34. The screw pumping unit 33 includes an inner body 33 a installed coaxially with the rotary shaft 31; an outer body 33 b which is separated from the inner body 33 a by a pre-determined distance and has a greater diameter than the inner body 33 a; and wings 33 d installed between the inner body 33 a and the outer body 33 b to form a pumping passage 33 c.

The centrifugal pumping unit 34 has substantially the same structure as those of the previous embodiments, and includes a lower plate member 34 a radially extended from an upper end of the outer body 33 b; an upper plate member 34 b, installed at the rotary shaft 31, being separated from the lower plate member 34 a by a predetermined distance; and blades 34 c disposed between the upper plate member 34 b and the lower plate member 34 a to extend radially with respect to the rotary shaft 31. The number of the blades 34 c may be the same as the number of the wings 33 d, and the blades 34 c may radially extend with respect to the wings 33 d.

The driver 35 has the same structure as those of the previous embodiments, and thus, a description thereof will be omitted.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a pumping device 40 according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the pumping device 40 includes a vertical rotary shaft 41 installed in a tower 13; a rotor 42 installed to move up and down along the rotary shaft 41 by the buoyancy of water entered into the tower 13; and a driver 46, installed in the tower 13, rotating the rotor 42.

The rotor 42 has a space in which buoyancy is generated, and includes a screw pumping unit 43 and a centrifugal pumping unit 44. The screw pumping unit 43 includes an inner body 43 b that has a buoyancy space 43 a and is installed to move slidably along the rotary shaft 41; an outer body 43 c separated from the inner body 43 b by a predetermined distance to surround the inner body 43 b; and wings 43 e installed between the inner body 43 b and the outer body 43 c to form a pumping passage 43 d.

In order for the inner body 43 b to be installed to move slidably along the rotary shaft 41, a shaft bearing 43 f is installed to be bored through the buoyancy space 43 a of the inner body 43 b, and the rotary shaft 41 is slidably supported by the shaft bearing 43 f. A bearing 43 g may be installed between the shaft bearing 43 f and the rotary shaft 41.

The centrifugal pumping unit 44 has substantially the same structure as those of the previous embodiments, and thus, a description thereof will be omitted.

The driver 46 includes a driven pulley 46 a that extends from an upper portion of the rotor 42 along the rotary shaft 41 and has a predetermined diameter; a driving pulley 46 c installed at a rotary shaft of a motor 46 b installed in the tower 13; and a belt 46 d connecting the driven pulley 46 a and the driving pulley 46 c. The driven pulley 46 a of the driver 46 has a length equal to a lifting distance of the rotor 42.

The driver 46 may also include a motor 53 installed at a frame 52 moving up and down along a guide 51 installed at an inner surface of a tower 13; and a rotary shaft 54 connected to a driving shaft of the motor 53, as illustrated in FIG. 7. In this case, the rotor 42 must be installed to freely move up and down by the buoyancy space 43 a and may be rotatably supported by a plurality of guide rollers installed at an inner surface of the tower 13.

The screw pumping unit 43 may be structured such that the diameters of the inner body 43 b and the outer body 43 c are increased gradually from the bottom to the top while constantly maintaining a width of a pumping space, i.e., a distance between the inner body 43 b and the outer body 43 c, as illustrated in FIG. 8.

The actions of pumping systems having the above-described structural characteristics according to the present invention will now be described.

First, referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, clear water is supplied into a vertical space section 11 of a tower 13 via an intake pipe 16 extended from the tower 13. At this time, intake of deposits or foreign substance into the intake pipe 16 can be prevented since an end of the intake pipe 16 is folded upward and a hood 15 is installed at the folded end.

In a state wherein water is supplied into the vertical space section 11, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a motor 25 a, which is a driver 25, is driven, thereby rotating a rotor 21. Through the rotary power of the rotor 21, water is pumped up through a spiral passage, i.e., a pumping passage 22 b formed by a spiral screw 22 c installed between a rotary body 22 a and a rotary shaft 24. The pumped water is radially re-pumped by a centrifugal force generated by a centrifugal pumping unit 23. At this time, a screw pumping unit 22 can perform water suction by the centrifugal pumping unit 23, thereby increasing pumping efficiency. In particular, when the lower portion of the screw pumping unit 22 is enlarged as illustrated in FIG. 3, an initial intake quantity of water can be increased, and thus, the feed rate of the pumped water to the centrifugal pumping unit 23 can be increased, thereby enhancing pumping efficiency. That is, the linear velocity of a screw 22 c is higher at a lower portion of the screw pumping unit 22, thereby increasing pumping power.

The thus-pumped water is supplied to a reservoir 100 via a water-bearing section 12 and an outlet pipe 14.

Referring again to FIGS. 5 and 6, when a buoyancy space 43 a is formed in a rotor 42, the rotor 42 is lifted by water entered into an internal space of a tower 13. At this time, a belt 46 d connecting a driving pulley 46 c and a driven pulley 46 a of a motor 46 b moves up and down together with the driven pulley 46 a and thus transmits the rotary power of the motor 46 b to the rotor 42.

In particular, as illustrated in FIG. 8, in a case where the width of a screw pumping unit 43 is gradually increased from the bottom to the top, water is affected by a centrifugal force generated by rotation of the rotor 42. Since wings 43 e are spirally twisted, the water is radially pumped up by a component of the centrifugal force.

Therefore, it is possible to increase the pumping power of water which is to be pumped by the screw pumping unit 43. The pumped water is re-pumped by a centrifugal pumping unit 44, thereby increasing pumping efficiency.

In addition, a pumping device having a buoyancy space can pump water entered into a vertical space section of a tower at a predetermined depth from a ground surface. In particular, when pumping seawater, the pumping can be achieved regardless of a variation in level of seawater entered into a vertical space section which is caused by the ebb and flow of the tide. 

1. A pumping device comprising a rotor, the rotor comprising: a screw pumping unit comprising a rotary body which is rotatably supported by a rotary shaft installed in a frame and a screw installed between an inner surface of the rotary body and an outer surface of the rotary shaft to form a pumping passage; and a centrifugal pumping unit, disposed on the screw pumping unit, radially ejecting water pumped by the screw pumping unit under a centrifugal force.
 2. The pumping device of claim 1, wherein the rotary body and the screw of the screw pumping unit have a diameter gradually decreasing toward the centrifugal pumping unit from the bottom of the pumping device.
 3. A pumping device comprising a rotor, the rotor comprising: a screw pumping unit comprising an inner body rotatably supported by a rotary shaft installed in a frame, an outer body separated from the inter body by a pre-determined body to surround the inner body, and a plurality of wings installed between the inner body and the outer body to form a spiral pumping passage; and a centrifugal pumping unit, disposed on the screw pumping unit, radially ejecting water pumped by the screw pumping unit under a centrifugal force.
 4. The pumping device of claim 3, wherein a distance between an outer surface of the inner body and the outer body is constantly maintained, and the inner body and the outer body have a diameter gradually increasing from the bottom to the top of the pumping device.
 5. A pumping system comprising: a tower, installed at a water intake place, having an internal space section and a water-bearing section disposed on the internal space section; an outlet pipe connecting the water-bearing section and a reservoir installed on land; an intake pipe which communicates with the internal space section, extends to the water intake place from a lower portion of the tower, and has an upward folded end, a hood being installed at the upward folded end; and a pumping device, installed in the tower, pumping water entered into the internal space section via the intake pipe to the water-bearing section and comprising: a rotary shaft vertically installed in the tower; a rotor comprising a screw pumping unit and a centrifugal pumping unit disposed on the screw pumping unit, the screw pumping unit comprising an inner body installed slidably along the rotary shaft and having a shaft bearing and a buoyancy space, an outer body separated from the inner body by a predetermined distance to surround the inner body, and a plurality of wings installed between the inner body and the outer body to form a spiral pumping passage, and the centrifugal pumping unit radially ejecting water pumped by the screw pumping unit under a centrifugal force; and a driver installed in the tower to drive the rotor.
 6. The pumping system of claim 5, wherein the driver comprises a motor, the motor comprising: a driven pulley having a length which is substantially the same as a lifting distance of the rotor along the rotary shaft supported by the shaft bearing; and a driving pulley connected to the driven pulley via a belt.
 7. The pumping system of claim 6, wherein a distance between an outer surface of the inner body and the outer body of the screw pumping unit is constantly maintained, and the inner body and the outer body have a diameter gradually increasing from the bottom to the top of the pumping device. 